Torrential rain could not stop super fit Woolsack racers from attempting an ancient challenge, including a Blue Peter presenter.

Radzi Chinyanganya finished in a creditable second place out of three in one of the eight men’s races up the one in four Gumstool Hill in Tetbury today.

Ever since the town’s young men challenged each other to carry a 60lb woolsack up the hill near the town centre around 400 years ago, the challenge has never got easier and today was no exception with the rain increasing the weight of the sacks.

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Forge Veterinary team member Ben Sellick, 25, ripped up the hill in a quick time, having never attempted the challenge before.

“It was solid,” he laughed. “That was really tough. I ended up swinging my hips just to get my legs moving one in front of the other.”

French Exchange Student Marie Ricardo Tetbury Woolsack Races

In the under 14 category Tetbury RFC backs beat the forwards side, and a team from France on an exchange programme and the crowd cheered all of them on, and the victors in this category and the under 16s sportingly spurred on their opponents to the line.

Always With A Smile charity runner Joel Hicks attempted the race for the ninth time, dressed as a wolf, chasing other runners dressed as sheep.

“I’ve never won it, never even come close,” he said. “In fact I think I hold the record for the slowest time when I was the back end of a pantomime horse – that was even slower than when I attempted it blindfolded.”

Joel Hicks of Always with a smile dressed as a wolf Tetbury Woolsack Races

The heavy rain but a 20 minute stop to proceeedings and race commentator Lester Murphy said he admired the spirit of all involved.

“I don’t live in the town now but I grew up here and it’s a great occasion where you see a lot of old faces,” he said. “Everyone really comes together.”

Before the races started, a minutes’ silence was observed in memory of those killed and injured in the Manchester bombing, Blue Peter presenter John Noakes and organiser of the Woolsack races for many years, Richard Avis.

The town centre was given over to a huge array of stalls including many French food outlets, which did brisk trade despite the poor weather.